Life Lessons: Fertility secrets

Two-million couples seek help for infertility each year. And while there are a lot of high tech options, doctors say there are natural ways to boost your fertility.

They say if you're trying to get pregnant, maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercise. Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol and stop smoking.

Dr. Victoria Maizes, MD Executive Director of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, says for 15-percent of couples getting pregnant can be difficult. "One of the most stressful things that people can experience is infertility."

But what about those old wives tales to help you conceive? Doctors used to tell women to stand on their heads to help eggs and sperm collide. That is a myth!

It also won't help to lift your legs up in the air for 20 minutes after sex.

And myth number three? Being on the pill for too long will delay pregnancy. Wrong again, but Dr. Victoria Maizes says there are some simple things you can do to maximize your fertility.

She agrees with the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition which says women wanting to get pregnant should eat a diet rich in omega-3's. Research shows omega-3's found in oily fish promote a healthy menstrual cycle.

Dr. Maizes adds, "Another food that turns out to matter is milk."

A Harvard Nurses Study found women who drank whole milk daily were 27 percent more likely to ovulate.

Finally, consider acupuncture, especially when combined with IVF.

"If you do acupuncture at the time of embryo transfer, there is a 91% increased rate of live birth. That's almost twice the likelihood of success," says Dr. Maizes.

At an average of $12,000 per IVF cycle, acupuncture could save you thousands and help give you a priceless gift.

Something else to think about when trying to get pregnant is yoga. Studies show yoga reduces stress, which could help with fertility.

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